Childhood Hearing Loss Increasing in the U.S., Study In Pediatrics Finds
The incidence of hearing impairment among children rose by 15% between 2001 and 2011, according to a study published last week in Pediatrics, an online publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The article, “Changing Trends of Childhood Disability,” reported an overall increase of 15.6% in childhood disabilities of all types over that period of time.
For their study, the authors used data collected from nearly 200,000 subjects by the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) from 2001–2002, 2004–2005, 2007–2008, and 2010–2011. They noted that the findings from 2001-2011 represent a continuation of a growing prevalence of childhood disability over the past 50 years.
Despite the overall increase in disabilities over the latest 10-year period studied, the incidence of physical disability health conditions in children actually declined by 12%. However, that was more than made up for by a 21% increase in disabilities related to mental and neurodevelopmental health, such as such as ADHD and autism.
FASTER INCREASE AMONG MORE AFFLUENT FAMILIES
The five authors reported that a disproportionate percentage of the nearly 6 million children who were disabled in 2010–2011 lived in poverty. The highest rate of disability, 102.6 cases per 1000 population in 2010–2011, was found in that economic sector.
Surprisingly, however, the largest
increase in the disability rate, 28.4% over the 10-year period, was found among children living in households with incomes 400% or more above the federal poverty level. According to the writers, this was the first time since the NHIS began tracking childhood disability in 1957 that prevalence occurred disproportionately among socially advantaged families. They noted, “This unexpected finding highlights the need to better understand the social, medical, and environmental factors influencing parent reports of childhood disability.”
While the study did not examine why this occurred, Amy J. Houtrow, MD, PhD, the lead author and chief of the Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, speculated that it may be because there is less stigma attached to getting help for a disability than in the past.”
Her co-authors were Kandyce Larson, PhD, and Lynn M. Olson, PhD, both on the AAP staff; Paul W. Newacheck, DrPH, of the University of California at San Francisco; and Neal Halfon, MD, of the University of California at Los Angeles.
ASHA CALLS FOR EARLY INTERVENTION
In a statement responding to the article in
Pediatrics study, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) noted that along with the rise in hearing problems from 2001 to 2011, the study found a whopping 63% increase among U.S. children in disability associated with speech problems. ASHA stated that the findings “underscore the importance of early intervention for rising numbers of children who are experiencing communication disorders.”
Elizabeth McCrea, PhD, president of the Rockville, MD-based association, said, “While the reasons behind the marked increase in speech and hearing problems may not be fully clear, the data argue for continued improved awareness among parents and the larger public about these disorders as well as speedy intervention at their earliest warning signs.”
She added, “Unlike many other conditions, early intervention often has the potential to prevent or reverse a communication disorder—or at least dramatically reduce the negative consequences it has on children’s academic and social success as well as their overall development. This is why ASHA urges parents to educate themselves about the signs and seek an assessment from a speech-language pathologist or audiologist if they have any concern at all.”


Military EO/IR systems demand to be spurred by improvements in technology, study saysNews
November 15, 2021
LONDON. The global market for military electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems -- valued at $9.2 billion in 2021 -- is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 3.43% to reach a total of $12.9 billion by 2031, according to new market research from GlobalData, "Global Military Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Systems Market to 2031."
According to the study authors, one of the major factors driving expenditure in the EO/IR system sector will be the integration of technologically advanced EO/IR systems into modern warfare platforms to obtain information superiority and situational awareness. This trend, according to the projections, will be additionally bolstered by increasing investments by major militaries in targeting systems, high-resolution payloads, and other systems.
Additionally, according to the research, the EO/IR market is experiencing demand in both man-portable and airborne platforms, thereby leading to sustained investment in both these segments.
In terms of region, the market is expected to be led by North America with a revenue share of 44.3%, mostly due to sustained high demand from the U.S. armed forces for EO/IR systems.


Gas grid operator DESFA’s ten-year development plan has been approved by RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, following a lengthy procedure, including consultation, that lasted several months.
A virtual pipeline proposal envisioning LNG supply to Crete, the north Aegean islands and the Dodecanese via tankers from the operator’s Revythoussa terminal just off Athens was left out of the approved plan. This is the ten-year plan’s only notable change compared to the draft forwarded for consultation.
LNG virtual pipelines serve as a substitute for conventional gas pipelines to enable the transport of LNG to points of use by sea, road or a combination of these.
The virtual pipeline proposal was removed from the DESFA ten-year plan following concerns expressed by consultation participants over higher surcharge costs for consumers that could have been imposed as part of the project’s cost recovery procedure.
The gas grid operator’s ten-year plan includes, for the first time, a natural gas outlet along the TAP route for the west Macedonia region in Greece’s north.
This TAP outlet, a project budgeted at 3 million euros and expected to be launched late in 2022, is intended to supply natural gas to the area’s provincial cities of Kozani, Ptolemaida, Florina and Amynteo for use at telethermal facilities as well as other energy needs in the post-lignite era.
The area’s telethermal system currently relies on energy produced by power utility PPC’s lignite-fired power stations, soon set for withdrawal as part of the country’s decarbonization effort.


Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-30-2021
Abstract
The complex and adaptive nature of malignant neoplasm constitute a major challenge for the development of effective anti-oncogenic therapies. Emerging evidence has uncovered the pivotal functions exerted by the small leucine-rich proteoglycans, decorin and biglycan, in affecting tumor growth and progression. In their soluble forms, decorin and biglycan act as powerful signaling molecules. By receptor-mediated signal transduction, both proteoglycans modulate key processes vital for tumor initiation and progression, such as autophagy, inflammation, cell-cycle, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Despite of their structural homology, these two proteoglycans interact with distinct cell surface receptors and thus modulate distinct signaling pathways that ultimately affect cancer development. In this review, we summarize growing evidence for the complex roles of decorin and biglycan signaling in tumor biology and address potential novel therapeutic implications.
Recommended Citation
Diehl, Valentina; Huber, Lisa Sophie; Trebicka, Jonel; Wygrecka, Malgorzata; Iozzo, Renato V.; and Schaefer, Liliana, "The Role of Decorin and Biglycan Signaling in Tumorigenesis" (2021).
Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers. Paper 337. https://jdc.jefferson.edu/pacbfp/337 Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. PubMed ID
34917515
Language
English


During my PhD exchange visit at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design, we organized the first GameAnimals seminar. On the day of the seminar, the 4th of October, the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated in Hong Kong, which includes dragon dances in several villages to bring fortune and prosperity to the people and the town. Dragons are amazing. So together with researchers Marleena Huuhka and Dr. Hanna Wirman we set-up a day of investigating and discussing the representations of ‘dragons’ in games.
Starting off the day in Dim Sum restaurant Dragon Lake House, all 7 participants contributed presentations that discussed different dragon representations from games including Skyrim, Zelda’s Breath of the Wild, Pokémon Go, Mahjong, Bubble Bobble, That Dragon Cancer, Puzzle and Dragons, the Final Fantasy series, Magic the Gathering, Garry’s Mod, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and DOTA 2.
We focused specifically on the differences in appearances, abilities, narrative elements, and cultural aspects that constitute dragons in games. This led to interesting discussions on what actually makes a ‘dragon’ a ‘dragon’ as a fictional or mythical construct. As well as how these representations are culturally enforced, gendered, stereotyped, but also somewhat unfixed throughout games. During this part of the seminar we also noted down keywords of the discussion that we used during the second activity.
Due to a lack of a meeting room, we decided that the second part of the seminar should take place in alignment with true Hong Kong trends: a Karaoke Box. It soon turned out that the echoed microphones and (lack of) singing skills among people in the adjacent rooms added an unforeseen extra dimension to our seminar.
We started with a brainstorming exercise that involved an adaptation of the popular Cards Against Humanity game. In our version, called Dragons Against the Humanities, we used the titles of last years’ DiGRA Conference Proceedings and the keywords we created in the morning to generate new paper titles. This activity led to 7 abstract titles we wanted to explore further:
Design Guidelines for Personifications of Dragons Exploring Draconic Identity Experiences in Videogames How Effective are Anthropomorphic Dragons in Simulating the Existential Crisis of Being both a Fairy and a Dragon? Towards a History of Dragons as Valuable Resources The Short Term Dynamics of Meeting a Dragon Something Happened: A Political and Cultural Overview of Dragon Ownership Methods for the Estimation of Degrees of Dragonness
As you can imagine, these titles were quite amusing to us. However, at the same time, it sparked our imagination and gave us new ideas about dragon representations. We decided to divide the titles among participants and start writing abstracts that match those titles. To remove ownership of the work, we chose to work for 7 minutes on each abstract, and then rotate our computers 7 times among all participants. So that every one of us contributed to all abstracts. This must have been one of the most serious Karaoke Box uses ever.
Afterwards, we went to Victoria Park to enjoy some daylight and fresh air, and we presented the abstracts to each other. To conclude the fruitful and inspiring seminar day, we all played a local dragon-themed escape room, that we did not manage to solve in time. Perhaps because, as game scholars, we were highly overthinking the puzzles.
Thanks to all participants for engaging with us in a productive day of dragon-game-talk. We are currently considering our options to rewrite the abstracts into conference papers.


On Friday, March 19th, the government of North Korea officially severed ties with Malaysia after Malaysia’s High Court approved the extradition of a North Korean citizen, to the United States, to face trial. Mun Chol-myong is accused of engaging in money laundering for North Korea, a violation of the stringent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposed sanctions placed on North Korea. The UNSC has sought to prevent North Korea’s access to foreign currency, which it fears funds its nuclear missile tests. While the latest row could have been avoided had North Korea refrained from fighting a losing legal battle with Malaysia and the UNSC, the “Hermit Kingdom” has been left ever more isolated and dependent on China.
Charges Against Mun Chol-Myong
Mun is accused of helping ship prohibited luxury goods from Singapore to North Korea and issuing fraudulent documents to support illicit shipments to his home country, both of which he denied in court. Mun has lived in Malaysia since 2008 and was arrested in 2019 after U.S. officials requested his extradition to face the charges of money laundering. However, Mun’s said the U.S. failed to seek extradition for three Singaporeans who worked in the same company with Mun and were also charged in the U.S. with money laundering. The Singaporeans were also charged in the city state for breaching U.N. trade sanctions on North Korea and were fined. Thus, lawyers maintain that “he is a pawn caught in the rivalry between the U.S. and North Korea.”
Malaysia-North Korea Relations
Malaysia is one of North Korea’s largest trading partners, and in 2014, Malaysia became the first country whose citizens were allowed to travel to North Korea without a visa. However, following the February 2017 assasination of Kim Jong-nam, Kim Jong-Un’s half brother, in Malaysia by North Korean agents, both countries recalled their ambassadors and cut diplomatic ties. Malaysia sought to ally with the UN by denouncing Kim Jong Un’s frequent missile tests and adopting resolutions to sanction North Korea. However, this dispute did not last long, as following U.S. President Donald Trump’s overtures to North Korea in 2018, Malaysia followed suit and began to engage with North Korean diplomats in 2019, resulting in a restoration of diplomatic ties. While North Korea’s embassy in Malaysia was set to reopen in 2020, the recent Malaysian political crisis, which saw the ousting of Pakatan Harapan in favour of Muhyiddin Yassin, delayed this move.
Implications of U.S.-North Korean Relationship
Trump and Kim’s meetings in 2018 sparked a new symbolic era of the U.S.-North Korea relationship, with two summits resulting in Kim reaffirming the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, disarming one nuclear facility, and Trump becoming the first sitting U.S. President to visit North Korea. However, in the months following the deal, it was clear that no meaningful concessions would actually materialize, and North Korea has since taken no steps to denuclearize. Since Biden’s inauguration, Washington has made renewed efforts to establish a diplomatic channel with North Korea, but there is little reason to expect North Korea to change its tone, with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choe Son-hui stating that North Korea would continue to ignore such attempts in the future. Meeting with top South Korean officials in Seoul, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken accused North Korea of committing “systemic and widespread abuses” against its own people, and reaffirmed the U.S.’s position on the denuclearization of North Korea. North Korea released a statement on March 18th, threatening that dialogue would only be possible after the United States ended its “hostile policy toward North Korea and both parties were able to exchange words on an equal basis”. Following the March 18th extradition of Mun, North Korea has argued that through its role in the extradition process, the U.S. was engaging in a “delaying-time trick,” and promised that Washington will have to “pay a due price.”
North Korea’s Isolation
Even though 95 percent of North Korea’s merchandise exports have been to China since the 2016 sanctions, even President Xi Jinping has abided by the UN sanctions, not reporting any imports of sanctioned goods, including textiles. This has made non-sanctioned goods – namely watch parts and fake hair products – North Korea’s top two exports. While China has directed uts trade policy to provide some relief to the North Korean economy, it provided record levels of food aid in 2019, meaning that North Korea remains largely at the whim of Chinese policymakers. The severing of diplomatic ties with Malaysia further deepens North Korea’s isolation, making it even more likely that the country will remain committed to its strategy of nuclear posturing to obtain temporary material concessions, but at the expense of normal diplomatic relations. After North Korea’s latest nuclear test in 2017, the Philippines, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Spain and Kuwait all expelled North Korean ambassadors. Various North Korean diplomats have also defected from overseas postings in recent years, including three diplomats from North Korean embassies in London, Italy, and Kuwait from 2016 until 2019.
North Korea’s engaging in risky nuclear testing and cutting ties with nations for prosecuting criminals in violation of international law creates a dangerous security environment for its own diplomats and will invite more crippling international sanctions.
Edited by Charlotte Gurung. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and they do not reflect the position of the McGill Journal of Political Studies or the Political Science Students’ Association.


More details about the distribution of esterified and unesterified cholesterol (EC, UC), abundant druse components, would inform models of druse biogenesis and new technologies for ocular imaging. From donors with grossly normal maculas (n=10, 66-86years), whose eyes were preserved in paraformaldehyde within 6h of death, extra-macular drusen encased with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were isolated manually. Cryosections of pelleted drusen, stained with filipin for UC and EC, were used to investigate filipin staining patterns within single drusen (n=193) and to quantify fluorescence (n=146). From lipid extracts of other drusen/RPE and RPE samples, total cholesterol (TC) and UC were determined by enzymatic fluorimetry. Drusen contained cores, basally located regions that were intensely bright when stained for UC or deeply dark when stained for EC; many were surrounded by concentric lamellae. Within the same cores, the EC-poor regions were significantly smaller (13.0mum) than UC-rich regions (17.1mum). Drusen with highly fluorescent EC-rich shells lacked UC-rich shells. Small spots representing lakes were visible only in drusen stained for EC. Some drusen had small, refractive spherical inclusions lacking both UC and EC. Of drusen examined, 32% had a UC-rich core, 35% had an EC-poor core, 31% had an EC-rich shell, 25% had EC-rich lakes, and 4-5% had UC-, EC-poor inclusions. Shells and cores occurred in significantly non-overlapping druse populations. The percentage of TC that was esterified ranged from 32-66% for drusen/RPE and 5-21% for RPE. The disposition of cholesterol in cores may reflect the activity of invading cellular process. The greater size of UC-rich cores relative to EC-poor cores may reflect a declining gradient of enzymatic activity with increased radial distance from the putative invaders. The relative sizes of sub-domains defined by cholesterol composition are compared to sub-domains detected in drusen by in vivo imaging methods.


Abstract
The popular recreational drug, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) exerts its actions in part via blockade of serotonin and dopamine reuptake. Many animal and human studies have demonstrated long-lasting reductions in measures of central nervous system (CNS) serotonin function following MDMA administration. One emerging role of serotonin function in the CNS is a positive trophic effect via stimulation of intracellular signaling pathways and trophic factors. We hypothesized that human MDMA users might display neocortical gray matter reductions due to loss of serotonergically mediated trophic effects on cortical cells. However, unlike animal models, most human MDMA users worldwide are polydrug users, thereby complicating the assessment of MDMA toxicity in this group. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 31 MDMA polydrug users versus 29 non-MDMA users were compared using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to assess regional brain gray and white matter concentration. VBM employs gray/white matter segmentation and statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis to calculate a voxel-wise comparison of regional gray or white matter concentration. Using this method, we consistently found several brain regions having decreased gray matter concentration in MDMA polydrug users. These regions were localized to neocortex in bilateral Brodmann area (BA) 18, left BA 21, and left BA 45, as well as bilateral cerebellum, and midline brainstem. Overall, these preliminary findings suggest that MDMA polydrug users have multiple regions of gray matter reduction, potentially accounting for previously reported neuropsychiatric impairments in MDMA users. Additional animal model and human studies of the CNS effects of MDMA and combined MDMA-polydrug toxicity are needed to further explain these findings. Potential explanations for our results including pre-existing brain differences predisposing to MDMA polydrug use, direct MDMA and polydrug toxicity, indirect changes due to MDMA and polydrug toxicity, or combinations of all these factors.
Keywords Imaging MDMA Neurotoxicity Polydrug abuse


Samenvatting
The clinical significance of non-HLA antibodies on renal allograft survival is a matter of debate, due to differences in reported results and lack of large-scale studies incorporating analysis of multiple non-HLA antibodies simultaneously. We developed a multiplex non-HLA antibody assay against 14 proteins highly expressed in the kidney. In this study, the presence of pretransplant non-HLA antibodies was correlated to renal allograft survival in a nationwide cohort of 4770 recipients transplanted between 1995 and 2006. Autoantibodies against Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor 2 (ARHGDIB) were significantly associated with graft loss in recipients transplanted with a deceased-donor kidney (N=3276) but not in recipients of a living-donor kidney (N=1496). At 10 years after deceased-donor transplantation, recipients with anti-ARHGDIB antibodies (94/3276=2.9%) had a 13% lower death-censored covariate-adjusted graft survival compared to the anti-ARHGDIB-negative (3182/3276=97.1%) population (Hazard ratio 1.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-2.53; p=0.0003). These antibodies occur independently from DSA or other non-HLA antibodies investigated. No significant relations with graft loss were found for the other 13 non-HLA antibodies. We suggest that pretransplant risk assessment can be improved by measuring anti-ARHGDIB antibodies in all patients awaiting deceased-donor transplantation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


Diabetes Despite Decline In New Diabetes Cases, Overall Numbers Remain High, Research Suggests
Medscape (5/30, Tucker, Subscription Publication) reported in continuing coverage that new research suggests “rates of diagnosed diabetes in the United States may finally be declining but overall numbers remain high.” The research found that “after nearly a two-decade increase in both prevalence and incidence of diagnosed diabetes in the United States, the prevalence – the number of people living with diagnosed diabetes – has stabilized for the past 8 years and there has been a decrease in incidence.” However, the researchers said, “Causes of the plateauing of prevalence and decrease in incidence are unclear and although the trends are encouraging, the overall burden of diabetes remains high and warrants continued intervention and monitoring.” The findings were published online in BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care.


Today the House Judiciary Committee met at the Rhode Island State House to consider 10 new marijuana-related bills. Some of the bills aim to legalize marijuana for medical use while others aim to legalize it for recreational use.
Included in the group of bills are: A change to legalize recreational use of marijuana for those over the age of 21 Requests to regulate and tax marijuana for personal use A bill to add post-traumatic stress disorder as a debilitating medical condition and fast-track medical marijuana applications for hospice care. Increase the number of permits for medical marijuana compassion centers from three permits to six
Additionally, these bills also aim to bar employers from denying employment or terminating an employee based on the use of medical marijuana.
Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Law
Today, medical marijuana is legal in the State of Rhode Island for the following qualifying conditions:
Alzheimer’s Disease Cachexia Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn’s disease Glaucoma Hepatitis C HIV/AIDs Nausea Persistent muscle spasms Seizures
Currently, patients with a medical marijuana card are legally permitted to carry two and a half ounces on them. They are also permitted to cultivate up to 12 plants and 12 seedlings, as long as the plants are indoors.
Personal Use of Marijuana in Rhode Island
In the state of Rhode Island, possession of marijuana for personal use is still illegal. Currently, penalties for possession of marijuana range anywhere from a $150 civil fine for possession of less than 1oz to 10 years in prison for felony possession of marijuana.
Have You Been Charged with Possession?
If you’ve been charged with marijuana possession, you need to take these charges seriously. While many supporters of the new marijuana bills are hopeful they will pass, the law still views possession as a crime and you could face fines or incarceration for unlawful possession of marijuana. If you’ve been charged with these crimes, it is in your best interess to seek the legal counsel of a Rhode Island drug attorney.
Abilheira Law, LLC can fight for you – Contact us today.


It’s normal for many people to experience insecurities when interacting with others. These insecurities can have a significant impact on your mental and emotional well-being. This explains why some have a fear of going to social places. Incontinence is a widespread condition affecting millions of people worldwide. The involuntary discharge of urine or faeces
Health


Reflection
This is another of those wonderful parables which are only recorded in the Gospel of Luke. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax-collector, rather like the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, describes a stark contrast.
Jesus gives a caricature of a Pharisee who is inordinately proud of his achievements, one who completes all that the Law requires, and far more besides. Jesus describes the Pharisee as praying ‘to himself’. This could simply mean that he was praying softly, but it seems also to suggest that the prayers of this man can never reach God. They are simply an expression of his pride and self-obsession, which is accompanied by a judgemental attitude to others.
We should be careful not to extend this negative portrayal of one Pharisee to all Pharisees, as has often been done in interpreting the gospels, for many members of this religious group were exemplary in their attitudes and conduct. The tax-collector recognises his need of forgiveness. The gospels are full of references to tax-collectors, who were often dishonest, and sought the company of Jesus along with other ‘sinners’ (as in Luke 15:1). This man is deeply conscious of his need for God. He stands far off because he recognises that the God of holiness is to be found in the Temple, and he feels unworthy to come closer. He is a man of genuine faith and he beats his breast in an honest expression of his need.
‘Justification’, being ‘at rights with God’, is not a result of our own efforts to accumulate good deeds, but comes as a free gift to those who acknowledge their sinfulness and believe in the forgiveness Christ offers.
Are my efforts to do good an attempt to win God over, or an expression of love for the God who forgives me? Do I pray as my heart directs me, or as I imagine I should? Let us pray for those who are desperate to please God. Let us pray for the faith which acknowledges the need of forgiveness.


Online interpretation services have existed for a long time. However, after the outbreak of the coronavirus, this branch of remote interpreting has taken on greater importance, especially for the overtaxed medical field. Nevertheless, states have not adequately prioritized medical interpretation services in this difficult time, making it harder for people to get proper care. Here are some reasons why:


April.05.2022
The United States ("U.S.") and the European Commission ("EU Commission") recently announced an “agreement in principle” to develop a new Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework (“Framework”). The Framework is intended to re-establish a legal mechanism for transfers of EU personal data to the U.S. after the Court of Justice of the European Union ("CJEU") invalidated the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield over concerns about the breadth of U.S. surveillance laws in its
Data Protection Commission v. Facebook Ireland and Maximillian Schrems (“ Schrems II”) judgment on July 16, 2020.
In a joint statement, U.S. President Joseph Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the Framework's shared commitments to advance privacy, data protection, the rule of law and security. They noted that the new Framework would “enhance the previously invalidated Privacy Shield framework” to help small and large companies compete in the digital economy and support the continued flow of data underpinning more than $1 trillion in cross-border commerce annually.
Following the invalidation of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield in
Schrems II, regulators scrambled to negotiate a new framework to enable companies to continue to transfer data to the U.S.
Now, after more than a year of negotiations between the U.S. and the EU, the U.S. committed to incorporating new safeguards to form a durable and reliable basis for the European Commission’s future adequacy decision regarding protections afforded to EU personal data transferred into the U.S. The joint announcement focused on trying to address several concerns highlighted by the Court in
Schrems II by committing to several new data protection measures to be implemented by the U.S. intelligence community.
For now, many of the details are still unknown and the White House has indicated that additional information is forthcoming in an Executive Order and the adoption of legal documents to effectuate the new Framework in both the U.S. and the EU.
Max Schrems, the lead litigant in
Schrems II, issued a statement through his nonprofit organization, noyb (“None of Your Business”). Schrems stated that the announcement was solely “a political announcement” and that until there was a final text to review, the Framework could be months away from implementation. Additionally, Schrems indicated that he would review the text, when issued, closely and was “likely to challenge” it if deemed not to be in line with EU law. Noyb speculated that this may lead to “legal uncertainty for the time being.”
The new Framework includes “unprecedented” commitments by the U.S. to privacy, data protection and security with the goal of encouraging cross-border data flows. The U.S. will augment the previously invalidated Privacy Shield framework and strengthen its privacy and data protection activities. Together, the U.S. government and the European Commission will continue working to formalize their commitment to form the Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework.
If you have questions about how the new Framework may impact your business operations, please contact a member of Orrick's Cyber, Privacy & Data Innovation team.


Are Educational Vouchers Only Redistributive?
Published In: The Economic Journal, v. 120, no. 546, Aug. 2010
Posted on RAND.org on August 01, 2010
It is unclear if vouchers increase educational productivity or are purely redistributive, benefiting recipients by giving them access to more desirable peers at others' expense. To examine this, we study an educational voucher programme in Colombia which allocated vouchers by lottery. Among voucher applicants to vocational schools, lottery winners were less likely to attend academic secondary schools and thus had peers with less desirable observable characteristics. Despite this, lottery winners had better educational outcomes. In this population, vouchers improved educational outcomes through channels beyond redistribution of desirable peers. We discuss potential channels which may explain the observed effects.


Dr. Rana hails from the village of Seohara in Uttar Pradesh, India. He went to the US to acquire an MBA at Ohio University before completing his MS and a PhD at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, USA. The well-versed leader is a seasoned investment banker. He began his investment banking career in investment portfolio management at UBS Investment Banking in New York. Furthermore, while working at HSBC’s New York office, he completed a series of complicated cross border equity/debt structured investments and financing transactions in Canada, the UK, Australia, South Africa, and Hong Kong. Following a career in finance, as an Assistant Vice President at HSBC in New York, he moved to London in April 2009 to launch his career as a social entrepreneur.
Right from his childhood, Dr. Rana had an innate passion for the transformative power of education. This fascination led him to seek ways to have a tangible impact on the marginalised communities. In 2008, he decided to get actively involved in the educational field to materialize his noble ambition of making education accessible to all. To that end, he formed the Lokmani Education Trust, an active nonprofit organisation that operates two higher education institutes in India, with a focus on teaching females from the poorest and most traditionally conservative districts.
AN ANALYTICAL BENT OF MIND
Dr. Rana’s passion lies in analysing various global education models and implementing them to help students realise their full potential via higher education. Following the early visible signs of success, he saw an opportunity to provide higher education access, along the same lines, in the United Kingdom, which led him to establish and lead the Global Education Group, which is situated in the United Kingdom. Despite the differences in context, he saw clear parallels to the work he had rolled out in India. There were deprived and marginalized communities largely supported by educational institutions and consequently held back by the system. GEDU is founded by Dr. Rana and has revenue of GBP 100 million. A portfolio of its offerings include the Global Banking School, the largest non-degree awarding higher education institution listed with the Office for Students (OFS) registered in the United Kingdom, Campuses in India (Lokmani.com), Dubai (gbs.ac.ae), and Malta (gbsplus.com). Englishpath.com is another venture by GEDU in the area of apprenticeship and language schools. Since the global environment is disrupting all aspects of our lives and businesses, Dr. Rana believes social and environmental sustainability must be weighed in planning the future of today’s ambitious youth.
PROVIDING ACCESS TO GLOBAL EDUCATION
Recognising the huge social benefit derived from educating people from deprived communities, Dr. Rana began to identify areas of deprivation to create educational opportunities for individuals to pursue courses in healthcare and business– the two areas in which he excels. Consequently, he launched the Global Banking School (GBS), which has carved a niche for itself as one of the fastest growing education providers in the UK. As the Group CEO and Chair of the Executive Board, the leader has been successfully leading the institution to achieve new heights of success. With GBS, he aims to create the next generation of pioneers and trailblazers in the industry.
GBS currently has 8 campuses across the UK – from Leeds to London, with the best faculty members to educate its students. Among all the attributes of GBS, its student centered approach deserves special mention. With over 5000 new undergraduates enrolling in 2021 alone, the school is set to witness an exponential growth. Furthermore, many of those students were attracted by recommendations and reputation, with the National Student Survey awarding GBS an astounding 93% for overall satisfaction in 2021 – an outstanding achievement during the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s more, considering UAE’s potential as an international educational hub in the making, Dr. Rana launched a fully-equipped GBS campus in Dubai’s Knowledge Park in 2021. It offers myriad industry-relevant courses, such as Higher Diplomas in Business Management, Digital Technology, Construction Management, and much more, to make the learners job-ready besides helping them achieve their career goals. In addition to its initial focus on finance and business, the school has diversified to offer healthcare training, which has been recognised as an asset that positively impacts local communities in a significant way. Dr. Rana’s goal is to contribute to the school’s growth and development by offering world class educational opportunities to more students from communities typically under represented in higher education. There are over 90% of students from BAME communities at this institution, a demographic which is almost unique in this sector and which is targeted not by quotas but by focusing on those who have not yet had the opportunity or background to pursue higher studies in the past. Furthermore, GBS has established a network of innovative partnerships with several UK-based universities to provide students with even greater opportunities to thrive and diversify their skills.
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT
Keenly interested in charitable activities, he plays a proactive role in supporting literacy, numeracy, and project management in Commonwealth countries. Through his work, he has been able to provide access to higher education to over 20,000 students across the country and now globally. The benevolent leader has particularly been struck by the fact that the benefits of educational aid extend way beyond the students, through their immediate families as well as communities and ultimately to the country as a whole. Anyone who has benefited from GBS’ services can offer their skills and knowledge in a diverse range of ways, such as improving the collective capacities and expectations of the marginalised communities.


Webinar: Traumatic Injuries and Mental Health: The Hidden Scars of Trauma
There is a strong body of research that demonstrates the explicit link between physical injury and mental health. Studies have shown post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety are frequent sequelae associated with traumatic injuries. Yet, there is often a delay in the recognition/diagnosis of these conditions due to lack of awareness, limited infrastructure to support this need and/or inability to access the appropriate care needed. This is particularly true in regions where mental health is stigmatized, or there is a distinct lack of resources; often the two are not mutually exclusive.
It is equally important to recognize that not all patients who suffer traumatic injury will develop a mental health disorder. There are multiple trajectories a patient may follow, some thrive after a significant traumatic event, displaying clear evidence of post traumatic growth, linked to pre-injury resilience levels.
This webinar aims to unpack mental health in relation to traumatic injuries, highlighting the multiple trajectories, the role of social determinants of health, health equity and practical tools for managing the psychological component of trauma care. The concept of trauma informed care will be introduced as a mechanism of encapsulating the above themes.
Panel: Jessikah Mondelus, trauma survivor from the Haiti Earthquake 2010, entrepreneur, Haiti. Nomi Levy-Carrick, assistant professor of psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Benjamin Kounou, assistant professor of psychology, Lomé University, Togo. Nadia Raymond, regional nurse director, Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Ceren Acarturk, associate professor of clinical psychology, Koc University, Turkey. Soraya Seedat, distinguished professor of psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Moderators: Michelle Joseph, instructor, orthopedic trauma surgeon, Harvard Medical School, UK/USA. Eric Bui, professor of psychiatry, Caen University, France.


The chemotherapy drug Gemcitabine, is used for treating certain cancers, including advanced pancreatic cancer. It delivers oxygen to the tumors and thus makes the chemo drug more toxic to the targeted cancer, allowing a greater cancer killing effect. This results of this study (published in the anticancer research journal) confirmed this effect, and showed a significant enhancement of Gemcitabine’s cancer killing effect when hyperbaric oxygen therapy was applied concurrently <view study>


The Use of Tacit Knowledge and School Innovation in Malaysia Secondary School
Siti Khatizah Aziz, Mohd Anuar Abdul Rahman
Abstract
The role of tacit knowledge in fostering organization innovation has increasingly gained interest many researchers. However, previous research dominating in the business sector. This study addresses these limitations by conceptualization in the academic setting. This study used the partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modeling (SEM) tool to test the relationship between the role of tacit knowledge among Malaysia secondary school principals and school innovation. Three types of skills used to measure tacit knowledge; cognitive skills, technical skills and social skills. As to measure school innovation, there are six latent variables; leadership, curriculum, co-curricular, student affairs, financial and structure and culture. Data from a questionnaire survey of 370 respondents from Sekolah Kebangsaan, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Tamil) were used to analyze the model. Partial Least Squares (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the relationships between all the variables and found that social skill was the most significant predictor of tacit knowledge while co-curricular was the most significant predictor to school innovation and the use of tacit knowledge has a significantly smaller impact on school innovation.


“…the thought that I could flip and die today made me feel anxious”: A study of the experienced emotions of novice white-water kayakers Sammendrag
Learning to white-water kayak often takes place in a stressful environment. This challenges participants’ experiences of the activity, causes emotional responses, and can affect their learning. The purpose of this study is to explore participants’ experienced emotions during an educational whitewater kayaking programme. Fifty-eight outdoor students from New Zealand participated. The participants responded to a bespoke questionnaire exploring fleeting somatic arousal and emotion on five different occasions during a kayaking day. Participants’ emotions changed during the activity. Excitement was significantly higher than anxiety across the day. Anxiety was highest before starting the activity. No significant difference was found between the male and female participants’ emotions. A thematic analysis resulted in five themes describing the participants’ emotional experiences. Findings are discussed and related to theory and previous research. These findings present new insights regarding in-the-moment emotional perspectives during a white-water kayaking course for novices.
Fulltekst Publisert Hvordan sitere Journal for Research in Arts and Sports Education, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.23865/jased.v6.3032 Utgave Seksjon Kategorier Nøkkelord:white-water kayaking, anxiety, learning, adventure activities, gender perspective Lisens
Opphavsrett (c) 2022 Sabrina Krogh Schmidt, Matt Barker, Jennifer Bryne
Dette verket er lisensiert under en Navngivelse 4.0 Internasjonal-lisens.
Forfattere som bidrar i
Journal for Research in Arts and Sports Education beholder opphavsretten til artikkelen sin, og samtykker i å publisere den under betingelsene i lisensen CC-BY 4.0.


Developed by TDC's Sandra Allen after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, RCI is a skill-enhancing group coping exercise focused on children's individual coping and resilience. Children become familiar with the concepts and language of coping and resilience, and they learn and practice coping skills. RCI encourages children to share their experiences and feelings, to identify appropriate and successful coping strategies, and to practice and evaluate the success of these efforts.
RCI may be completed in a single session or used as often as needed or desired to allow children to revisit the coping strategies identified in previous sessions or to discuss new challenges children may be facing in their daily lives. Repeating RCI sessions with the same group of children reinforces lessons learned in earlier sessions and strengthens children's connections with other children in the group. RCI can be implemented in schools or in after-school, community, faith-based, or clinical programs and can be conducted by trained teachers, counselors, youth program staff, volunteers, parents, or other adults.


Our research project—Three Centuries of Francophone Migration in North America, (1640–1940)—contributes to a better understanding of issues related to immigration, cultural diversity, and coexistence by exploring the emergence and development of French-speaking populations.
Project Objectives
Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), this partnership project aims to highlight the central role that Francophone migration has played in the emergence and development of North American populations across three centuries. Our team is composed of community and academic partners, scholars and students. Together, we seek to explore the collective and individual experiences of Francophones in North America over the course of 300 years.
Team members adopt innovative perspectives as they coordinate their research on Francophone migrations. These efforts involve combining heritage and academic expertise in an interdisciplinary approach; considering a diversity of spatial, social, and temporal scales; and pursuing diverse interactions between macro- and micro-level studies.
Three Research Axis
Migration Flows and Processes
We define migration patterns in terms of the territorial mobility of individuals. As for migration processes, they correspond to the factors that shape and structure mobility.
Cultural and Linguistic Flows
Linguistic practices and ideologies are defined by migration patterns and interactions between various groups serve to reveal cultural and linguistic flows. Such flows carry ideas, material culture, traditions, practices, and consumption patterns.
Migration Narratives
Migration narratives provide insight into how migrants experienced mobility and settlement in new places.


Description
Magnum Nutraceuticals Primer is a fully encapsulated multi-nutrient performance pack. These powerful packs contain 8 pills with 6 specific functions.
Magnum Nutraceuticals Primer is designed to support multiple systems in the body such as brain support, digestion, hydration, anabolic support as well as energy production. This product is your foundation to ensure you’re primed and ready for everyday life. Furthermore, this product will help you build more muscle, burn more fat, and train with more intensity.
What Makes Primer Unique?
Magnum Primer performance packs were created to supply high-quality ingredients to your cells in their most absorbable state. The micronutrients and cofactors in Primer have been handpicked and carefully encapsulated to ensure maximum absorption. You will not find any compressed tablets in Magnum Primer for a reason. Compressed tablets include excipients such as povidone (PVP), cellulosics, and modified starches, which are included as binders, disintegrants, diluents, lubricants, and surfactants in tablets.
Therefore, this product delivers its ingredients in a fine particle form in a natural shell capsule. These open in the stomach in under 15 minutes, and are optimally transported when consumed with a meal. Moreover, This process leaves each nutrient fully available for utilization through the stomach and into the intestines, laying the foundation to support muscular gains, health, wellness, recovery and anti-aging.
Who Is Primer For? Men and women who want to build muscle and burn fat Anyone who wants to enhance their recovery abilities Anyone who wants to support their immune system Anyone on a calorie restricted diet Anyone who has a difficult time with massive multi-vitamin tablets


Key theories of foreign policymaking include: the rational actor model, prospect theory, poliheuristic theory, cybernetic theory, bureaucratic politics, and organizational politics; and, at the group level, groupthink, polythink, and con-div. These theories are based on unique decision rules, including maximizing, satisficing, elimination by aspect, lexicographic, etc. A new, two-group model of foreign policy decision-making includes a decision design group and a decision approval group.


COVID-19 Best Practices in the Office
With COVID-19 sweeping across the globe, you're likely wondering what you need to do to keep your office safe and ensure your team's wellness. We've gathered a list of helpful tips from the CDC. Read on for info on social distancing, COVID-19 hygiene etiquette, and cleaning guidelines in the workplace.
What is Social Distancing and why does it matter?
The CDC defines Social Distancing as "avoiding large gatherings and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible (e.g., breakrooms and cafeterias)."
We know COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets. Maintaining a safe distance from others in your workspace reduces the potential for infection by reducing transmission of those respiratory droplets.
The CDC recommends the following Social Distancing business strategies:
Implementing flexible worksites (e.g., telework) Implementing flexible work hours (e.g., staggered shifts) Increasing physical space between employees at the worksite Increasing physical space between employees and customers (e.g., drive through, partitions) Implementing flexible meeting and travel options (e.g., postpone non-essential meetings or events) Downsizing operations Delivering services remotely (e.g. phone, video, or web) Delivering products through curbside pick-up or delivery What can you do to keep your office clean and healthy?
The best way to keep your office clean during COVID-19 is to regularly disinfect, encourage frequent hand-washing and hand sanitizer use, discourage handshaking, employ the use of masks and gloves when needed, and increase ventilation.
The CDC recommends the following guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting your workplace:
Routinely clean and disinfect all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, keyboards, telephones, handrails, and doorknobs. If surfaces are dirty, they should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection. For disinfection, most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective. A list of products that are EPA-approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19 is available on CDC's website. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.). Discourage workers from using other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment, when possible. If necessary, clean and disinfect them before and after use. Provide disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces (for example, doorknobs, keyboards, remote controls, desks, other work tools and equipment) can be wiped down by employees before each use. To disinfect, use products that meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-Cov-2,, the cause of COVID-19, and are appropriate for the surface.
By following these guidelines, you can empower you business to stay happy and healthy.
*Please note, we always recommend adhering to any additional COVID-19 guidelines issued by your individual state or country.*


CD8(+) T cells in the circulation of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) were previously shown to be significantly more sensitive to, and preferentially targeted for, apoptosis than CD4(+) T cells (Hoffmann et al., Clin Cancer Res, 8:2553-2562, 2002). To distinguish global from CD8(+) subset-specific apoptosis, we studied Annexin-binding to naïve, memory, and effector subsets of CD8(+) cells by multicolor flow cytometry. Age-related changes in naïve and effector CD8(+) cell subsets were observed in patients and normal controls (NC). The frequencies of naïve (CD28(+)CD45RO(-)) CD8(+) T cells were lower and those of memory (CD28(+)CD45RO(+)) and effector (CD28(-)) CD8(+) T cells significantly higher in the circulation of HNC patients relative to age-matched NC. Among CD8(+) T cells, the CD28(-) effector cell subset contained the highest proportion of Annexin-binding cells, while the naïve CD28(+)CD45RO(-) subset contained the lowest. This suggested a high turnover rate of the CD8(+)CD28(-) effector cell subset in patients with HNC, which was being compensated by a rapid transition of naïve CD8(+) T cells to the effector cell pool. Following tumor resection, the frequency of CD8(+)CD28(-) T cells normalized in the patients, an indication that the presence of tumor had an influence on the size of CD8(+)CD28(-) T-cell pool. Ex vivo, in mixed lymphocyte-tumor cultures (MLTC) with semiallogeneic T cells as responders, CD8(+)CD28(-) T cells could be generated from CD8(+)CD28(+) cells by repeated stimulations with tumor cells. These CD8(+)CD28(-) effector cells lysed the tumor, produced IFN-gamma in response to the tumor, and strongly expressed granzyme B. Thus, the high rate of their apoptosis in the circulation of patients with HNC might be expected to contribute to tumor progression. However, the ex vivo generation of this cell subset was suppressed by strong CD28/B7 ligation or by overexpresson of MHC molecules on tumor cells, suggesting that adequate costimulation is necessary for protection from apoptosis. It appears that interactions of immune and tumor cells might determine the fate of this terminally differentiated effector cell subset.


抄録
Thoracoscopic repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) has recently become more common, and the challenge of managing neonatal cases is increasing. Meanwhile, there have been reported intraoperative complications or conversion to open surgery due to injury of herniated viscera and inability of organ reduction. We used the endoscopic surgical spacer SECUREA™ (Hogy Medical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), which is an elliptical sponge made of polyurethane with a radiopaque marker, for preventing these complications in three cases of CDH. The first case was a late presentation in a 10-month-old girl, and the second and third cases were prenatally diagnosed female neonates without severe pulmonary hypertension. All cases were left-sided hernias without sacs. At operation, the SECUREA was grasped using forceps, and the viscera were pushed back gently to avoid injuring the spleen or the short gastric vessels in the second and the third case. The SECUREA was intended to prevent intestinal injury during defect repair in all cases, with placement of the SECUREA between the edge of the diaphragm and the reduced intestine. The procedures in all patients were completed with no complications and without the need for conversion.
本文言語 English ページ（範囲） 304-306 ページ数 3 ジャーナル Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques 巻 22 号 3 DOI 出版ステータス Published - 01-04-2012 外部発表 はい All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes 外科


The multifamily sector has been in a continuous state of growth over the last few years, with the development of 2.34 million new apartments in the last decade alone. As the new year and decade approaches, an optimistic outlook of long-term growth potential for the multifamily market is predicted. This exponential growth is largely due to a growing economy and job market, plateauing homeownership rates, low interest rates, and solid consumer confidence.
Read ahead to discover the future projections for the multifamily sector in 2020 and learn what these projections could mean for the upcoming year.
Apartment Demand
The Multifamily sector is positioned for a favorable performance and growth in 2020. However, the new supply of apartments being built in the new year is expected to outpace demand. This will result in some “cooling” within the sector. Apartment demand for 2020 is projected to decrease to 240,000 units, approximately 20% less than that of 2019’s estimated 300,000 units. Despite this mild slowdown in demand, the sector is predicted to have enough stability to absorb most of the new supply within oversaturated markets.
Although multifamily demand is predicted to decrease, multifamily completions are anticipated to remain robust. In fact, approximately 280,000 units are set to be completed in the new year. This includes new development within both urban and suburban locations. However, based on market performance and investment returns, suburban multifamily will remain the best bet in 2020.
Occupancy and Vacancy Rates
Since the first quarter of 2018, the national vacancy rate for the multifamily asset class has remained at or near 4.7%. In 2020, the multifamily vacancy rate is expected to remain under 5% – as it has been for the past five years. According to CBRE, however, the vacancy rate for the new year will be 4.5%.
Top Markets for Multifamily Performance
CBRE Research has designated Austin, Atlanta, Phoenix, and Boston as the top four markets for multifamily performance in 2020. This designation encompasses three very high-growth metros with very active construction (Austin, Atlanta, and Phoenix) by population, households, employment, and multifamily demand. Additionally, Boston, an emerging gateway market, is predicted to be a top multifamily leader in 2020.
Austin
The multifamily market in Austin is experiencing significant growth that is driven by an increasing demand. The projected demand for this market is so intense that Austin will need to increase its inventory of rentals by nearly 50% by 2030 if it is to keep up with the expected pace of growth.
Atlanta
Atlanta is emerging as a leader in multifamily performance. With a rent increase of 4.8%, Atlanta ranked among the country’s rent growth leaders in 2018. In 2019, the demand for apartments greatly outweighed the supply by a nearly two-to-one ratio. More than 4,200 units were rented while 2,700 new units were delivered into the market.
Phoenix
With positive job growth, hundreds of new residents moving into the city daily, and a strong demand for multifamily housing, Phoenix, Arizona is predicted to experience another year of substantial multifamily growth. In 2019, Phoenix had a reported growth in net operating income of 3.2% and an occupancy rate of 95.5%. Because of its substantial growth this year, CBRE predicts that Phoenix will remain a top multifamily leader in 2020.
Boston
The Greater Boston Area has experienced historically low unemployment rates, higher wages, salaries, and bonuses within past years. As a result of this added capital, the demand for updated apartments and new construction within the city has increased tremendously. With a rapidly growing market, Boston is predicted to be a top performing market in 2020.
The multifamily market has had consistent growth over the last decade and is expected to begin the new decade with a strong year. Despite an expected “cooling” in demand in 2020, the market is predicted to be strong enough to endure and remain stable. As we head into the new year, the commercial real estate industry should be prepared for yet another prosperous year for the multifamily sector.
Read 3 Key Takeaways from Deloitte’s 2020 Commercial Real Estate Outlook for more information on the industry’s outlook for 2020.


✔The best time for planting onion seeds outdoors is in spring, as soon as the soil can be worked in your area. Place them about an inch (2.5 cm.) deep in the soil and approximately half an inch (1.5 cm) or more apart. If planting rows, space them at least one and half to two feet (45 – 61 cm) apart.
✔When it comes to onion seed germination, temperature plays an active role. While typically germination occurs within 7-10 days, soil temperature affects this process. ✔Once seedlings have sufficient leaf growth, thin them down to around 3-4 inches (7.6 to 10 cm) apart. Transplant onion seedlings that were started indoors about 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost or freeze date, provided the ground is not frozen. ✔Onion plants have shallow roots and require frequent irrigation throughout the growing season. Good harvest!


From AEA staff:
Request for Information: Public Access to Peer-Reviewed Scholarly Publications, Data and Code Resulting From Federally Funded Research (comment period extended to May 6, 2020) https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/31/2020-06622/request-for-information-public-access-to-peer-reviewed-scholarly-publications-data-and-code
SUMMARY: OSTP, and the National Science and Technology Council's (NSTC) Subcommittee on Open Science (SOS), are engaged in ongoing efforts to facilitate implementation and compliance with the 2013 memorandum Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research and to address recommended actions made by the Government Accountability Office in a November 2019 report. OSTP and the SOS continue to explore opportunities to increase access to unclassified published research, digital scientific data, and code supported by the U.S. Government. This RFI aims to provide all interested individuals and organizations with the opportunity to provide recommendations on approaches for ensuring broad public access to the peer-reviewed scholarly publications, data, and code that result from federally funded scientific research.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 11:59 p.m. ET on May 6, 2020.
OSTP is interested in perspectives on the following topics:
What current limitations exist to the effective communication of research outputs (publications, data, and code) and how might communications evolve to accelerate public access while advancing the quality of scientific research? What are the barriers to and opportunities for change?
What more can Federal agencies do to make tax-payer funded research results, including peer-reviewed author manuscripts, data, and code funded by the Federal Government, freely and publicly accessible in a way that minimizes delay, maximizes access, and enhances usability? How can the Federal Government engage with other sectors to achieve these goals?
How would American science leadership and American competitiveness benefit from immediate access to these resources? What are potential challenges and effective approaches for overcoming them? Analyses that weigh the trade-offs of different approaches and models, especially those that provide data, will be particularly helpful.
Any additional information that might be considered for Federal policies related to public access to peer-reviewed author manuscripts, data, and code resulting from federally supported research.
Times Higher Education analysis of this RFI: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/trump-hesitates-plan-open-access-mandate


The coronavirus outbreak has caused worldwide hysteria, resulting in travel bans, immigration delays, and widespread quarantines. While vaccines have begun rolling out, recent updates show that new cases continue to rise each day, with about 5.7 million recorded and over 87,000 deaths.
Naturally, we have been fighting viruses since the dawn of time. The Spanish flu, for example, affected about 500 million people globally and killed at least 50 million. Significantly, medicine has advanced and has had significant breakthroughs over the last few years, enabling us to develop vaccines and antiviral drugs to heal the sick and prevent inevitable infectious disease outbreaks.
Of course, comparing the effect of one virus to that of another isn’t necessarily a nuts-and-bolts analysis. However, considering all the factors, it is insightful to consider the present danger and threat.
On that note, let’s take a look at some of the deadliest viruses that nearly wiped out the human race.
1. Rabies
This virus is prevalent in over 150 countries and territories worldwide and has killed tens of thousands of people, particularly in Africa and Asia. It’s caused by rabies infection, typically spread by infected animals, and can then be transmitted through their saliva to other animals or humans by attacking them. In rare instances, rabies is also spread to an exposed wound or mucus membrane.
The incubation phase is two to three months, with initial signs of fever, discomfort, and tingling sensation at the wound site. As the infection spreads to the nervous system, lethal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord occurs.
While this disease is 100% lethal if left untreated, rabies shots take effect almost immediately after the onset of infection. Additionally, it’s also entirely avoidable by taking preventive measures such as having your pets vaccinated. This significantly decreases the virus’s fatalities.
2. Marburg
Scientists discovered the Marburg virus in Uganda in 1967, when workers in a lab contracted infections from untreated monkeys. This virus is similar to Ebola in that it is capable of causing hemorrhagic fever, organ failure, and even death.
Though the mortality rate in the first incident was low, it was notably at 88% in the subsequent incidents in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. Precautions require the use of sterile gowns, gloves, and masks; complete containment of the affected individual; and sterilization or careful handling of needles and other supplies. Supportive hospital therapy, which entails managing the patient’s fluids and electrolytes, regulating oxygen status and blood flow, restoring drained blood and clotting agents, and treating any complicating diseases, is often included.
Not much is known about the Marburg virus and its relation to spread from humans to other species. However, one way to prevent contracting a virus is to avoid contact with bats and other animals with the illness.
3. Dengue
Dengue fever first emerged in the Philippines and Thailand in the 1950s and has since been transmitted across the world’s tropical and subtropical areas.
According to the World Health Organization, dengue infects 100 to 400 million people per year. While the mortality rate for this virus is lower than other hemorrhagic viruses, it can be fatal at 20%.
Dengue vaccine was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2019 for children ages 9 to 16 who live in regions where dengue is prevalent and have a documented history of virus infection.
However, those who have never been exposed to the infection may be at risk of contracting severe dengue if given the vaccine. Thus, it’s imperative to take safety and preventive measures. You can do this by using a natural insect repellent or mosquito trap and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants. You can even use a mosquito net and empty water containers, as these can be a potential breeding ground for the mosquito carriers of this disease.
Viruses are identified according to the genome they use, structure, replication, and their ability to spread, such as mycoplasma, bacteria, and single-celled species. Some viruses infect only one animal, while others can infect many. Since they are believed to have originated from infected cell’s DNA or RNA, they have acquired the capacity to replicate independently. Viruses can also be degenerated species of intracellular parasites. Certain viruses are entirely harmless until they infect a host cell. Others, on the other hand, can be deadly.
Disease outbreaks have plagued humankind throughout history, altering the course of time and, at some point, marking the death of an entire population. However, one thing is for sure. While the list of lethal viruses is frightening, history has taught us that there is always a way and that we should not lose hope that these diseases will be eradicated one day.


This event has passed. December 11, 2017 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Event Navigation « Building Legal Capacity to Combat Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Against Immigrants Which Status to Choose? »
SB795 passed during the 2017 session, and requires that medical personnel and law enforcement dispatch an advocate when a survivor presents for medical-forensic care.
This 60-minute webinar will cover how the law provides survivors with access to in-person information about the advocacy options available to them, including the option to decline services, so survivors can fully consent to the kind of care they receive. We will discuss what has and hasn’t changed with passage of the law, which goes into effect Jan 1, 2018.
This webinar is meant for advocacy programs, but all disciplines, including SART members, are encouraged to participate. The webinar will be recorded and available on our website.
Instructors:
BB Beltran, Executive Director, Sexual Assault Support Services in Lane County Nicole Broder, SATF SANE Coordinator Kim Larson, Director, Marion County DA Victim Assistance Program Lisa Norton, Executive Director, My Sister’s Place in Lincoln County Michele Roland-Schwartz, SATF Executive Director


The textile industry is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. Our country is the fourth-largest producer and the third-largest consumer of cotton globally. Textile manufacturing is a complex process, requiring specialized solutions to manage inventory, supply chain, and cost. The competitiveness of the industry is transforming textile companies, leading them to adopt industry 4.0 standards.
ExD is a leader in implementing ERP systems in the sector, being the first company to have implemented SAP's textile vertical, FVB, in Pakistan. ExD’s textile solution covers the entire chain of textile manufacturing, starting from spinning, weaving, dyeing, apparel, and retail. Over the years, ExD has developed textile-specific solutions, including:
Input your search keywords and press Enter.


The progressive consolidation of an international judiciary is often perceived as a cornerstone in the process of building an institutional architecture to bolster a global rule of law, yet its authority and legitimacy are increasingly contested. This piece explores the limitations of a formal account of representation that places state constituencies at the centre, thus engaging with diversity only marginally. The paper explores alternative conceptions embedded in difference-based models of democracy that might be more suitable to capture the pluralistic (cultural and legal) make-up of a global society composed by diverse (heterogenous and unequal) groups. The reference to ‘decolonization’ is mostly used as a metaphor to critically engage with the appropriation of institutional and legal discourses by dominant groups that ultimately suppress alternative understandings by non-dominant groups that hold less material or symbolic power.
We look forward to welcoming you on July 3-5, 2023 for our Annual Conference entitled "Islands and Ocean: Public Law in a Plural World." The conference will take place at the Victoria University of Wellington, in New Zealand. We will be announcing more details about the conference soon, including financial support to early career and global south scholars!


04/03/2019 / By Rhonda Johansson
Newly published research in the journal
Neuron provides novel insights on fear management. According to researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, imagining threats before they happen can weaken your response to them whenever — or if ever — they happen. The study has strong implications in the treatment of anxiety and other fear-related disorders.
The thesis of the argument is that fear is a learned reaction to certain stimuli. People quickly learn to fear a threatening or unpleasant experience. This fear will recur when certain cues, such as sights or sounds associated with the bad experience, are sensed. If the fear is severe, it can negatively impact life, often manifesting in emotional disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder, different forms of phobia, and anxiety.
It has been argued that the best way to remove fear is to experience the threatening cues without having a bad experience — a strategy which psychologists refer to as “threat extinction” or “extinction learning.” It is argued that by conditioning a person to repeatedly experience “bad” cues without the bad experience, the person will feel a reduction of fear, consequently eliminating the anxiety associated with it.
However, this type of therapy is impractical in some cases, especially when the cues associated with a traumatic event are difficult or unethical to reconstruct, such as a war zone. These cues may be too overwhelming for the patient to re-experience.
For such cases, researchers suggest relying on imagination. The concept of using internal simulation of real-life events is nothing new. Most psychotherapy sessions depend on the patient using their imagination. Nevertheless, its use in terms of fear management and elimination has not been fully explored, until now.
To test the usefulness of imagination in extinction learning, the Mount Sinai researchers exposed 68 study participants to auditory threat conditioning, which involved exposing them to two different sounds, one of which was paired with an electric shock. Then, the participants were randomized into three groups.
The threat memory was then reinstated in all participants through four unsignaled shocks, after which all participants were re-exposed to the conditioned auditory stimuli. To better assess the neurocognitive changes of imagination and threat perception, functional MRI images were collected from all the participants for each phase. Skin conductance responses were likewise recorded continuously.
Daniela Schiller, professor of neuroscience and psychiatry at the
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and senior author of the paper said of their findings: “We found that imagined extinction and real extinction were equally effective in the reduction of threat-related neural and physiological responses elicited upon re-exposure to real-world threatening cues.
“More specifically, neuroimaging results indicated that imagined extinction, like standard extinction, activated a network of threat suppression involving the ventromedial prefrontal cortex as a central hub.” (Related: Guided imagery paired with physical relaxation techniques can significantly reduce stress.)
The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is the area of the brain involved in threat response and extinction. It has been studied to play a significant role in anxiety disorders.
To read more fascinating research on neuropsychology, head on over to Brain.news.
Sources include: Tagged Under:
alternative medicine, Anxiety, brain function, extinction learning, Fear, fear management, fear-related disorders, imagination, imagined extinction, mental health, mind body science, PTSD, research, threat extinction


Feeling like a victim of blackmail is one of the worst things imaginable. You might not be sure if what's happening is blackmail, though. Folks in the blackmail consulting world encourage potential clients to look at these aspects of a problem to determine what's going on.
Threat
Usually, blackmail centers on a threat to do or reveal something. For example, a digital blackmailer might have obtained explicit photos from a person's phone and is now threatening to reveal them to others.
Notably, blackmail tends to include a threat accompanied by a request for something in return. The simplest forms of blackmail center on getting money from people or businesses. However, blackmailers may also want you to do something or even not do it. Someone blackmailing a business, for example, might want them to drop a competing bid.
The basic logic of blackmail is that someone wants you to do or not do X. In exchange, they propose to reveal or not reveal Y.
Something of Value
Generally, the something involves in blackmail is something of value. A blackmailer might want access to something, especially if they're involved in corporate espionage. Old school blackmail often boils down to shaking people down for money. Regardless of the motives and goals, the blackmailer wants something of value.
This is distinguished from a simple transaction in one key way. The victim doesn't gain positive value from the deal. A transaction is two parties trading on value for their mutual benefit. Blackmail is one party seeking benefit while threatening the other party with loss.
Is it Whistleblowing?
There are scenarios where organizations misperceive whistleblowing activities as blackmail. However, most whistleblowers aren't willing to abandon their efforts in return for something of value. Also, there are legal processes for whistleblowers to register their concerns and pursue remedies without creating the appearance of blackmail. If you're concerned you might be misunderstanding the situation, a blackmail consultation can help you to straighten the ideas out.
What to Do
More than anything, seek outside help. A blackmail consulting firm can help you to assess the situation, determine if the other party's actions are untoward, and decide how to respond. Bear in mind that the solution may be as simple as doing nothing. However, don't assume that until you've discussed the problem with an experienced consultant. The solution could also involve legal complexities, such as contact or even cooperating with law enforcement.
Reach out to a blackmail consultant like Frank Ahearn for more information.


Plants can fight viruses by synthesizing small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that target and destroy viral RNAs. Yet, plants’ own messenger RNAs (mRNAs) must evade this defense mechanism. In a study published in
Nature Communications, the team led by Dominique Gagliardi has shown that uridylation prevents mRNAs from becoming a source of illegitimate siRNAs, that are deleterious for plant development and survival.
Actualités Scientifiques de l’INSB
En direct des labos du 16 Mars 2021


Professional Advisory Maintaining Professionalism Use Of Electronic Communication And Social Media
Electronic communication and social media create new opportunities for extending and enhancing education. However, as the number of communication forms increase, so does the chance of an unintentional mistake. Ontario Certified Teachers must be aware of the potential risks associated with electronic communication and social media so that they can use them safely and appropriately. By being aware, you can minimize risks and model the digital professionalism expected for teaching professionals.
Maintaining professional boundaries in all forms of communication, technology-related or not, is vital to maintaining the public trust and appropriate professional relationships. However, when more informal communication channels are used with students and parents,1 professional boundaries can begin to blur. This advisory will help you to use your professional judgment to identify and avoid potential risks.
Hits: 624


ARTIST STATEMENT
2006, the first democratic elections held in Congo. The same year corresponds to a strong external demand for copper and cobalt. Several international investors flock to Katanga. Among these investors, you meet Chinese. China promises to rehabilitate infrastructure in return for Congolese mineral development in Katanga.
Following the series
Mémoire (2006), I documented since 2009 artisanal mining in Kolwezi, a region of Katanga. Artisanal mining appeared shortly after the downfall of the mining industry controlled by Gécamines, supported by the government, and has today become a practice of survival for the Congolese.Workers in these artisanal mines include former Gécamines workers, their family members, students and unemployed families who fled the war.
Given their current territorial and economic instability, artisanal miners live in tented cities of makeshift tarpaulins near the mining areas. These living spaces and operations are temporary. Workers are subject to contracts signed between the state and investors. Maps of these exploitative industrial and artisanal sites remain unknown to all but the mining registers held by government.
The extraction takes place at sites previously drilled by mining machinery, with slopes up to over 100 meters in height. Armed with picks, hammers, lamps and bags of raffia, miners climb these slopes in search of heterogenite (raw material containing copper and cobalt). To extract heterogenite from these slopes, they must excavate tunnels of 60 to 100 meters into the earth, before reaching the vein (layer of earth containing heterogenite). Then they go up and down the slopes several times carrying over 50 pounds, to accumulate sufficient tonnage for industrial sale. Often miners are victims of landslides, but these losses do not stop the march to riches.
In these cities of canvas, I was struck by the presence of Chinese posters that decorate the interior walls of makeshift bars, hotels, homes, hair salons, photo studios … These posters depict images of Western and Asian cities, landscapes real or imagined. You can almost believe that these images represent the Congo of tomorrow. Thus, I have chosen to integrate these posters into my work as an extension of a utopian future born of artisanal mining, the loss of human lives, the export of minerals and the continuing displacement of populations.


Menopause, whether at the peri-, mid- or post- stage, is not only a change occurring to the hormonal household or the physical body, it also impacts and has an altering effect on the emotions of women transitioning. The disequilibrium of hormones, the fluctuation between dominance and deficiency, can cause upheaval and havoc resulting in moodContinue reading “Mood-swings and the Pause”
Homeopathy has to date been little investigated for its efficacy in the treatment of PTSD. However, states of anxiety, depression, panic, trauma, fear, irritability, sleeplessness, and mental and physical distress have long found relief by homeopathic treatment. Homeopathy is a medicinal treatment considered as complimentary to conventional medicine. It is tailored to treating the individualContinue reading “Homeopathy for PTSD? Really? The ‘Totality’ is key!”


Automatic post-editing (APE) aims to improve machine translations, thereby reducing human post-editing effort. APE has had notable success when used with statistical machine translation (SMT) systems but has not been as successful over neural machine translation (NMT) systems. This has raised questions on the relevance of APE task in the current scenario. However, the training of APE models has been heavily reliant on large-scale artificial corpora combined with only limited human post-edited data. We hypothesize that APE models have been underperforming in improving NMT translations due to the lack of adequate supervision. To ascertain our hypothesis, we compile a larger corpus of human post-edits of English to German NMT. We empirically show that a state-of-art neural APE model trained on this corpus can significantly improve a strong in-domain NMT system, challenging the current understanding in the field. We further investigate the effects of varying training data sizes, using artificial training data, and domain specificity for the APE task. We release this new corpus under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license at https://github.com/shamilcm/pedra.


Many of us today are settling most of our purchases and transactions using the UPI payment mechanism. And now, one can even withdraw cash from ATMs without a debit or credit card, by using UPI apps such as Google Pay, Paytm, PhonePe.
After the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) proposal, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) introduced a feature called Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal (ICCW), which allows people to withdraw from ATMs using their UPI apps. It should be noted that a cardless cash withdrawal facility using UPI is currently only available for select banks. The banks offering a cardless card withdrawal facility include the State Bank of India(SBI), HDFC Bank, and Punjab National Bank (PNB).
What do you need to withdraw cash from ATMs using UPI apps?
You need a bank account and UPI payment apps such as GPay, PhonePe, and BHIM linked with that account. You should also have an active internet connection.
Withdrawing cash from ATMs without using debit or credit cards decreases the chances of transaction failure due to wrong PINs, or lost or stolen cards. That said, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has asserted that banks will not stop issuing debit cards following to the introduction of cardless cash withdrawal facilities at ATMs.


Students’ representations in understanding abstractions in Mathematics help the learners’ long-term retention. An exhibit in the four corners of the classroom through the simple creative artwork, be assigned as the curator of outputs, a listener, and visitor of the exhibit when combined helped the students’ long-term retention and desirable understanding of the applications in Mathematics. This study aimed to determine the profile of senior high school students (SHS) in terms of sex and strand chosen. Also, it identified the level of performance in the pre-test, post-test, formative assessments in operations of functions, and properties of the logarithm. The significant difference between the pre-test and post-test of the students are tested to determine if there is an improvement in the application of the gallery walk. A randomized block pre-test post-test design was used in the 250 SHS of the Morong NHS in determining if a significant difference exists in the performances when grouped according to sex and strand chose where association on these variables were also tested to determine which one is the best factor in reaching the advance proficiency level. Findings uplifted a notable performance gain in learning the subject. After testing the hypotheses, improving performance through gallery walk was received differently by different strands (i.e. Accounting, Business and Management (ABM), Science, Technology and Engineering Mathematics (STEM), and General Academic Strand (GAS)) but equally used according to sex. Also, it was confirmed that the chosen academic strand is a factor of becoming an advanced proficient learner in the General Mathematics course. It can move the field of Mathematics Education forward since this strategy can be used in all disciplines because tested effective. Through consistent encouragement in projecting creative outputs makes learning Mathematics innovative by applying the action plan proposed in this study.


Prescription opioids are often prescribed because they are effective for relieving moderate to severe levels of pain. When taken as directed, the medication can manage pain for a short amount of time. When long-term use is needed, patients need to be screened and monitored to ensure a physical dependency doesn’t develop – as that can lead to opioid addiction.
When patients who have developed a physical dependency stop talking prescription opioids, they can go through withdrawal, which includes symptoms like restlessness, insomnia, muscles and bone pain, cold flashes, vomiting, and diarrhea. When taken improperly, like in large doses or with alcohol, an overdose can occur and result in death.


Additionally, they claimed that the graphene-cobalt catalyst remained more consistent than platinum. They specified that platinum degraded during the experimentation, faster than the new catalyst. The event proved that the combination of graphene and cobalt could endure more exertion than platinum.
The researchers also mentioned that both materials performed differently after 17 hours of experimentation, compared to their initial execution. According to Sun, the graphene-cobalt catalyst degraded its performance by only 30%, while platinum faded for more than 10% of the other material.
Therefore, graphene-cobalt maintained 70% of its initial capabilities at the latter part of the testing, outperforming the power of platinum by 60%


Movement Intelligence (MOVINT) solutions Identify high-value targets, monitor high-value locations, and identify closely related individuals and infrastructure.
Mission-critical defense and security operations demand both timely and accurate intelligence to provide situational awareness and support strategic decision-making. Currently, the detection and tracking of key targets and activities (whether from video, radar, or other forms of sensor data) require analysts to painstakingly monitor, review, and interpret large volumes of data and imagery from multiple sensors. This manually intensive process compromises the effectiveness of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations while diverting both time and funding from other key initiatives.
Addressing this challenge, GXP
® offers a suite of multi-source video and analytic ISR solutions that enable automated processing of video and motion imagery while delivering real-time intelligence on movers (vehicles and people). These solutions are used by defenders worldwide to support critical missions such as: Operations overwatch Counter-terrorism Force protection High-Value Target (HVT) localization Smuggling interdiction Border security Development and dissemination of intelligence
As a result of increased operator efficiencies enabled by these solutions, intelligence analysts can focus on exploring and interpreting threat activity and networks, and creating actionable intelligence reporting, instead of simply reviewing data and “connecting the dots.”


Attorneys Are Hitting the Booze
Due to the profession’s high demands, it’s long been reported that many lawyers suffer from
, and depression, and that some resort to substance abuse, as a direct and proximate result.
According to a recent Workload and Hours survey published by Bloomberg Law, reliance on alcohol remains significant and appears to be on the rise. With some 644 attorneys participating, it was noted that alcohol consumption increased as the respondents’ perception of their well-being declined.
Of those who reported drinking more, some 36% noted that their well-being remained the same, while 47% reported a decline. (That’s in contrast to the 38% of the respondents who indicated that their well-being worsened in the first half of the year.)
Of the attorneys who disclosed their gender, 46% of those who reported imbibing more were women, while 53% were men. (Although other studies suggest that women have higher use issues, in this report, roughly the same number of men and women indicated that they were drinking more, than in the prior reporting period.)
The survey analysts caution that the responses may be skewed by the gradual (post-pandemic) return to workplace “normalcy,” which includes long commutes, more in-person interactions, demanding schedules, and less time for self-care, and that may be triggering “the need for an outlet for the stress in the form of alcohol.”
# # #